Filtering apparatus



'Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

A. L. GENTER.

F|ILTER|NG APPARATUS. APPLICATION .FILED OCTI 8,1919.

ALBERT If. GEN TER, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED FILTERS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

FILTERING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 8, 1919. Serial No.

To all wjzpm 'it may concern:

Be it known that ALBERT L. GENTER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt lvake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements -in Filtering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to filters of the type in which the liquid to be filtered passes by gravity through a granular filtering medium, the invention being more particularly directed to improved Washing and cleansing means vfor the filtering medium.

The objects of the invention are to provide improved means for Washing the filtering medium in which the Wash liquid is forced under pressure through the filtering medium in a reverse direction to the flow of liquid during the filtration; to provide means for thoroughly stirring and agitating the filtering medium Without the use of mechanical agitators inthe nature of revolving shafts and rotating agitator arms; to obtain a double washing of the filtering medium; to thoroughly agitate the filtering medium during both Washing operations, for these purposes to provide an injector nozzle for the wash water toi-aise and agitate the filtering medium, to obtain an adjustable injector to accommodate various pressures of wash water and different sized grains ofthe filtering medium; to provide overflow means adjacent the wash water outlet to prevent the filtering medium from escaping and to carry off the floating foreign matter and dirt in the Wash water; to provide'a readily,

removable eductor lining so that a new lining may be substituted for a Worn one; and to obtain other results and advantages as may be brought out fby the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which llke numerals of reference indicate `the same parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a filter embodying my invention, and

Figure 2 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Specifically describing the present embodiment v'of my inventionVthe numeral 1 designates a hollowy cylindrical casing provided with an inverted conical bottom 2 and a domed top 3, which is provided with a Specification of Letters Patent.

tened upon the walls vPatented ree. a, ieee. 329,248.

the casing, as shown by Figure 2, the branch.

plpes 9 being supported by cross bars 10 fasof the casing 1. These branch collecting pipes are covered with fine mesh screens 1l to prevent the granular filter material 12, such as sand, which fills the caslng 1 u to a point slightly below a bafiie plate 13, rom passing into the pipes 9.

The bafile plate 13 is arranged adjacent the top of the casing 1- and is provided With a. central opening 1 4 surrounded by an annular upstanding overflow flange or rim 15.

At one side of the casing 1 and just above the bafiie p late 13 a 'supply inlet pipe 16 for the liquid to be filtered vleads into the casing, the said pipe being provided With a valve 17. The. liquid tobe filtered fiows into the casing through this pipe 16, the air escaping through an air outlet 18 at the top of the casing until the casing is filled With liquid, when the air outlet is closed by the` valve 19. The liquid flows over the overflow' rim 15 and by gravity passes through the granular filtering medium 12, the foreign and solid matter in the liquid being filtered out by and adhering tothe granular material, and the filtrate passing through the slitted branch pipes 9 and manifold pipe 7 toa filtrate outlet pipe 20, which may be closed by a valve 21. This filtering action 'continues until the filtering medium 12 becomes clogged by dirt andsolid matter from the liquid passing through it, when it is necessary to thoroughly wash the filtering medium to render it fit for further filtration.

For this purpose a Wash Water main pipe 22 is provided with a branchpipe 23, having a valve 24, which connects outlet pipe 2() -between the valve 2l and the manifold 7. The valve 17 in the inlet pipe 16 and the valve 21 in the filtrate outlet pipe 20 are closed and the valve 24 opened, thus n los With the filtrate allowing wash water under pressure to pass through the manifold 7 and branch collecting pipes 9 upwardly, through the filtering medium 12 in a direction the reverse of the flow of the liquid during filtration. This action" disengages some of the coarser dirt and foreign matter from the granular filter material 12 and',4 floats it upwardly over Ithe overflow rim 15 into an effluent outlet pipe 25 provided with a valve 26, which is closed during the filtering operation but open when the filter material is being washed. rllhe ing a valve 28 therein and leading into an eductor casing 29 secured to the a eX of the conical bottom of the casing '1. ounted vertically in the eductor casing 29 .is an injector nozzle 30 which has a threaded or other suitable adjustable connection 30` with the eductor casing, the said nozzle having slots 31 in the walls thereof communieating with the wash water branch pipe 27. A stuffing box 32 is provided between the eductor casing and the nozzle' for a watertight joint, and the outer end ofthe nozzle is headed at 33 to provide a handle for .adjusting the nozzle vertically. The' upper or inner end of the nozzle passes loosely into the lower end of an eductor tube 34 which extends vertically upward through a double conical baffle35, lcentrally of the casing 1,

the upper end of said eductor tube communicating with a vertical standpipe 36 extending centrally 'of the casing l through the filter material 12 to a point slightly below the top of the overflow rim 15.' llt will be observed that the injectorrnozzle is so arranged as to be readily removed or adjusted without disturbing the pipe connections. 'lhe double conical baffle 35 comprises a lower inverted conical shell whose walls are slightly spaced from and substantially parallel tothe conical botlom of the casing by spacing bolts or studs 37 and an upper conical shell whose walls incline upwardly toward the centery ofthe casing 1, the bases of the cones meeting as at 39. The valve 24 being closed, as the wash water under pressure passes from the branch pipe 27 through the'nozzle 30 and into the eductor tube 34, the granular filter material 12 is drawn by suction downwardly between the conical 'baffle 35 andthe bottom of the casing into the eductor tube 34 and is then forced upwardly through the stand-pipe 36 overflowlng at the upper end thereof. This and thoroughly cleansing the same.

TLA-cages action causes great agitation ofthe granular material, separating the dirt therefrorln 'lf e dirt is carried upwardly over the overflow rimand into `the effluent discharge pipe 25, whilel the granular material settles by gravity to the filter bed. The granular filter materialis thus continuously circulated, being forced from the bottom of the casing upwardly through the stand-pipe 36 as rapidly as it settles `to the filterbed.

rll`he injectory nozzle 30 is yertically adjustable to vary the clearance between it and the lower vend of the eductor tube 34 as may be required by various pressures of wash water and different sizes of grains of the filter material. The' adjustment allows the injector to be regulated to produce the requisite circulation of the filter material at various pressures of wash water supply, as well as to accommodate various kinds of granular filter material.

At the top of the conical baffle 35 and surrounding the standpipe 36 is a flushing jet 40 which is preferably conical in shape and has the lower edge thereof slightly spaced, as atl 41, from the upper conical surface of the baffle 35. A. flushing pipe 42 is connected to the wash water main 22 and 1s provided with a valve 43, said flushing pipe communicating with the jet 40. `With the valve 43 open, and when the granular filter material l2 reaches the top of the conical baffle 35 it is further agitated and scrubbed by the strong jet of wash water issuing from the jet 40and is forced downwardly over the conical baffle to and over the edge 39 thereof, where it is drawn by the injector nozzle 30 into the stand-pipe 36. rThe filter material is thus given a double washing and scrubbing and is continuously agitated by the injector 30 and flushing jet 40. v

Every particle of the filter material even at the extreme center of the bed is thus thoroughly washed and the whole filter bed is kept inconstant circulation during the washing operation. 'llhe agitation by the Wash water itselfl is more efficient and simpler than mechanical stirrers and agitators which do not cause a circulation of the filter material, and thecomplicated machinery incident to such mechanical agitatorsvis dispensed with. The flushing jet 40 causes a lateral as well as vertical agitatiomand the elevation of the filter material bqdily by the,injector 30 allows the dirt to separate as the filter material settles. rlFhe overflow rim15 retards the wash effluent to prevent the filter material from passing into the outlet pipe 25, and allows the dirt to float to the surface and fiow over the rim while the filter material settles to the filter bed. rll`he conical baffle 35 divides the filterbed so as to prevent clogging of the eductor tube and injector nozzle, and the fiushing jet 40 lconstantly forces the filter material over the 'thoroughly clean, .the valves 24, 28, '43 and 26 are closed, whereupon the valves 17 and 21 may be opened and the filtration process resumed. The eductor -casing 29 may be provided with a valved outlet 44 for draining sand from -the filter bed, when it is desired to replace the Same. n

The operation of the filter is substantially automatic and requires little attention other. than the manipulation of the valves.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1 'In a filter, the combination'of a casing adapted to contain a granular filter material, a removable injector nozzle positioned to discharge upwardly within said casing, means for supplying wash liquid under pressure to saidinjector nozzle to agitate and cause circulation of the filter material within said casing, and means for adj usting said injector tovprovide requisite circulation at varying pressures of wash liquid supply.

2. In a filter, the combination of a casing adapted to contain a granular filter material, a vertical pipe arranged in said casing and having its lower end spaced from the bottom y of the casing, means for injecting a jet of wash liquid under pressure into the lower end of' said pipe to cause a circulation of said filter material, and means for adjusting said injecting means relatively tothe pipe.

3. In a filter, the combination of a casin adapted to contain a granular filter materia a verticalpipe arranged in said casing and having its lower end inserted into said filter material, aremovable nozzle arranged under the lower end of said pipe and in line therewith, means for supplying wash liquid under pressure to said nozzle, and means for adjusting said nozzle relatively to the lower end of sald vertical pipe. Y

4. Ina filter, the combination of a casin adapted to contain a granular filter materia a vertical pipe arranged in said casing and having its lower endy inserted into the filter material, a pipe connection in the lower portionl of the filter for supplying wash liquid under pressure to the vertical pipe;y anozzle interposed between the pipe connection and the vertical pipe so arranged as to be readily removable without disturbing said connec-v tion.

5. In a filter, the combination of a casing adapted to contain' a granular filter material,

a wash liquid inlet at the lowerrend of said casin for forcing liquid upwardly through said lter material, a wash efiluent outlet at vthe upper end4 of said casingy above the filter material, and an overflow member arranged within said casing' adjacent said outlet pipe to retard the fiow ofefiiuent and cause the filter material to settle.

6. `In a filter, the combination of a casing adapted to contain a granular filter material, a wash liquid inlet atfthe lower end of said casing for forcing liquid upwardly through said filter material, a wash effluent outlet arranged at the' upper end of said casing above the filter material, a bafile plate above said filter material and provided with a central opening surrounded by an annular up- Istanding rim, the top of which is above the wash efiiuent outlet, to retard the escape of the liquid and cause the filter material to settle.

7. In a filter, the combination of a casin adapted to contain a granular filter materia piplng arranged vertically within said casing, an. injector nozzle within said casing and in alignment with .said vertical piping, means for supplying wash liquid under pressure to said injector nozzle to agitate and .cause circulation of the filter material, and

means whereby'said injector nozzle may be readily removed from the casing without disconnecting the wash liquid supplying means from the filter. f

8. In a filter, the combination of a casin adapted to contain a granular filtermateria a vertical pipe arranged in said casing and havin its lower-end inserted into said filter mater1al,.a removable nozzle arranged in the lower end 4of said pipe and in line therewith, a pipe connection extendingi laterally vfrom the lower portion of the casing for suppl ing wash liquid under pressure to said nozz e, said nozzle bein adjustable and removable independent of t e wash liquid su l i Atm-:mv L. (initiatie 

